This document provides reports from farmers in Benguet, Philippines on their trials using mokusaku (wood vinegar) in agriculture. The farmers applied mokusaku through fertigation, foliar spray, and compost and observed benefits such as thicker leaves, increased yields, and reduced pest and disease damage on crops like carrots, celery, lettuce, bell peppers, and cauliflower. One farmer also reported using a mixture of mokusaku and propolis as an organic pesticide. The farmers found that mokusaku helped control pests and diseases while reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

2. FARMERS IN BENGUET
PRACTICE
SAVERS TECHNOLOGY
December 2011
Safe Vegetable Promotion Project
in Benguet
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3. TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
BASIC INFORMATION
I. WHAT IS MOKUSAKU?
II. HOW TO COLLECT MOKUSAKU
III. SEDIMENTATION OF MOKUSAKU
IV. COMPOSTING
V. SOIL SUPPLIMENT
VI. FERTIGATION
VII. FOLIAR SPRAY
VIII. EXTRACTION
REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF MOKUSAKU TRIALS BY FARMERS IN
BENGUET
MR. SOTERO CAPSUYAN BUGUIAS, BENGUET
MR. JOHN DAMPILAG BUGUIAS, BENGUET
MR. RUDY ATAS BUGUIAS, BENGUET
MS. SHIRLEY PALAW-AY TUBA, BENGUET
MS. JUDITH JACINTO KABAYAN, BENGUET
MR. CLAVIER MENDOZA KABAYAN, BENGUET
MS. REYNELDE BALONG KABAYAN, BENGUET
KABAYAN MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURE OFFICE
MS. LUCY LUCAS TUBLAY, BENGUET
MR. JEFFREY SOTERO TUBLAY, BENGUET
MR. RENATO DINGWAS LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET
MR. WESTMOORE MARTINI LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET
MR. ISAAC LARUAN LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET
MR. LEONARD VALDEZ LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET
MR. STEMBER NGAYAAN KIBUNGAN, BENGUET
KIBUNGAN MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURE OFFICE
SAVERS PROJECT DEMO FARM
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4. MR. SATUR BULAY BUGUIAS, BENGUET
MS. POLONIA ALOS TUBLAY, BENGUET
MS. EMILIA ALOS TUBLAY, BENGUET
MR. RODERICK SUDANGO BUGUIAS, BENGUET
MR. RENANTE CASENIO TUBLAY, BENGUET
MR. SORIANO MANU TUBLAY, BENGUET
MS. GERONIA KIMPA-OY TUBLAY, BENGUET
MS. DOMINGA TOPE KABAYAN, BENGUET
MS. RENITA TAPLIN KABAYAN, BENGUET
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5. v
PREFACE
Nearly five years have passed since JAEC Project on safe vegetable here in Benguet.
This project intended to help Benguet farmers cultivate soil by using organic materials
such as compost, charcoal and Mokusaku (wood vinegar) and produce safe and healthy
vegetables. The project worked with farmers in La Trinidad during the first 3 years.
From 2010 on, the project covered the whole Benguet. A large number of farmers
learned the “Safe Vegetables from Rich Soil” technology and practiced it.
These farmers have witnessed beneficial effects of the technology: They demonstrated
that, by using these materials and reducing farm chemicals, strong plants resistant to
pest and diseases were grown and safe vegetable were produced.
This booklet contains field reports of these farmers. They tell us how Mokusaku and
other materials are used for different crops, together with its effects. In order to assist
readers having limited experience to understand the technology, this booklet also
includes a chapter to explain ways of producing these materials and using them on the
field.
Dear readers of this small book, please try using them on your own farms. At first, you
may go through errors and trials. But, you will be getting better results by and by. When
you get good results, please inform us. We will collect your reports and publish Volume 2,
3, etc. of the booklets.
Hoping that this field report will be of use for your production of vegetables, flowers,
strawberries, etc.,
December 2011
MASAKI YOKOMORI
Senior Technical Advisor
Safe Vegetable Promotion Project in Benguet.

6. I. WHAT IS MOKUSAKU?
Mokusaku is liquid obtained from oil, juices, sap and other liquid contents of organic
materials such as wood, coconut shell, bamboo, grass, and other plants after being
heated in a chamber. The chamber is heated by burning firewood placed at the base of
the chamber. When these organic materials are heated, their liquid contents evaporate
as steam (gas, smoke). The steam passes through a tube (cooling chamber) where it
will be allowed to cool. When the steam is cooled, the vapor will turn into liquid
(condensation processed). The liquid is what is known as Mokusaku. From the tube,
this liquid is collected in a container.
WHAT IS MOKUSAKU? Organic-materials(Wood, Coconuts shell, Bamboo, Grass, etc.) Dry DistillationSmoke-CO2-Water-Organic-SubstancesCooling downCondensationWood Vinegar=Mokusaku-pH 2-3-Organic compounds (10-20%) Over 300 chemical substances(Acid, alcohol, phenol, neutral materials) 1

7. 2
Mokusaku is composed of a lot of organic chemical substances. Studies in Japan have
shown that there could be more than 300 chemical substances.
Table1: Components of Mokusaku produced of Broadleaf tree bark, Oak, Japanese Cedar, and Bamboo
Group of (mg/1,000cc)
chemicals
Name of chemical Broadleaf
tree bark
Oak Japanese
Cedar
Bamboo
Characteristic
Alcohol Methanol 1,777 3,318 56 2,662 Water-Solvent, Poisonous
Ethanol 8 13 0 28 Water-Solvent
Ketone Acetone 43 670 0 154 Water-Solvent
Acetic acid 29,290 70,046 4,302 15,224 Main-Ingredient of Vinegar, Pungent smell
Propionic acid 1,173 2,500 114 649 Flavor material, Pungent smell
Lactic acid (260) (1,893) (76) (240) Flavor material, Rancid smell
Valeric acid 0 39 12 0 Flavor material, Rancid smell
Crotonic acid 31 40 17 0
Carboxylic
Acid
Benzonic acid 33 83 24 28 Food antiseptic, Flavor, Cosmetics, Industrial
material
Furfural 28 419 0 2,151 Flavor (Aromatic substance of coffee, etc.) Solvent
Tetrahydrofurfuryl
alcohol
8 20 0 0 Flavor (Aromatic substance of coffee, etc.) Solvent
2-Acetylfuran 46 45 0 34 Flavor (Aromatic substance of coffee, etc.)
5-Methylfurfural 10 99 0 48 Flavor (Aromatic substance of coffee, etc.)
Furan
Furfuryl alcohol 15 0 0 0 Flavor (Aromatic substance of coffee, etc.)
Phenol Phenol 244 323 7 354 Bactericidal antiseptic
Guaiacol 188 396 18 260 Bactericidal, Pungent smell promoter
4-Methylguaiacol 111 111 10 69 Bactericidal, Pungent smell promoter
4-Ethylguaiacol 38 29 6 27 Bactericidal, Pungent smell promoter
Vanillin 23 25 278 11 Flavor (Food flavor, Vanilla flavor)
Guaiacol
Acetoguaiacone 25
Syringol 178 1,303 0 209 Pungent smell palliative
4-Methylsyringol 77 14 0 43 Pungent smell palliative
Syringol
4-Ethylsyringol 30 9 0 42 Pungent smell palliative

8. 4-Propylsyringol 58 0 20 Pungent smell palliative
Syringaldehyde 50
Acetosyringone 44
Methyl Syringate 24
o-Cresol 40 40 0 35 Bacterial disinfectant, Wood antiseptic
m-Cresol 73 66 0 38 Bacterial disinfectant, Wood antiseptic
p-Cresol 72 38 9 70 Bacterial disinfectant, Wood antiseptic
2.6-Xylenol 16 9 0 2 Industrial material
2.5-Xylenol 14 0 0 3 Industrial material
Alkyl Phenol
4-Ethylphenol + 22 0 0 170 Industrial material
3.5-Xylenol
r-Butyrolactone (260) (1,893) (76) (240) Flavor (Food flavor)
Cyclotene 101 95 67 113 Flavor (Aromatic substance of coffee, etc.) Solvent
Others
Maltol 43 346 67 0 Flavor (Food flavor, Sugar-like flavor)
Reference: Miyazaki-Midori Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
However, contents of these substances in Mokusaku are dependent on the materials to
be heated as well as the burning/carbonization process and the timing collecting cooled
steam from the tube. Further researches are still needed to validate the chemical
components as stated in the table, since the data are based on few studies in Japan.
3

9. II. HOW TO COLLECT MOKUSAKU Mokusaku is liquid obtained by trapping smoke which comes fromwhen organic materials are heated, and then “cooled”. Hence, the in the collection process of Mokusaku is how to condense the smok Smoke/Gas generatorWood, Bamboo, CoconuExhaust pipe Cool smoke by using Cooling chamber of smoke Smoke pipe MMookkuussaakkuu

10. Farmers in Benguet coll Bamboo could be used asr although not as du ect Mokusaku using a long bamboo a substitute for the stainless cooling chamber. Itcheaperable. If the place is cool, Mokusaku can be colong chimney.

11. Sedimentation•At least 6months sedimentation•Upper 20% is mostly water part•Bottom 20% contains tar•Middle 60% is good quality Mokusaku for sprayingFor composting, and for soil application60% 20% 20%Water partTar partMokusaku for spray

12. Dried Weeds Mushroom Compost Mokusaku Mokusaku hastens CompostingComposting Carbonated Rice Hull

13. amount of nitrogen source added, aeration and the balance mater in the pile. Good compost is obtained if inside reaches degrees Celsius. This temperature kills pathogenic microorganisms. But it is not advisable to maintain this temperature thprocess. Further, if the temperature goes beyond 75 degrees microorganisms. To avoid overheating, mix the heap at least the pile, the outer potion should be put insideold pile should be put outside. Water should also becontinue decomposition. A good for composting indicator is the presence of Actinomycmolds like and white in color attached to the compost mateAfter one or two months, the compost can be usedcompost per 1 m2.

14. SOIL SUPPLEMENT Soil Supplement Charcoal and MokusakuCharcoal (Dry=2:1(=600- For Soil Imp100-500kg/1,0 It become Nest (Charcoal) and Food (Mokusaku) for Microorganisms

15. Fertigation•Ratio–Mokusaku: = 1: 10-20•1L Diluted Li•At least 3t•Control NeSoil•Activate usorganisms

16. (c) It makes the plant vigorous.
If your plants are affected by club roots, it means that population of microorganisms is
not balanced in the soil. The existences of club root means that the number of
nematodes is increasing in the soil. In this case, we must normalize balance of microbes
population in the soil.
Fertigation is a good practice and solution in creating better microbes population
balance.
Mokusaku has two main effects.
(a). It controls pathogenic bacteria.
(b) Food for useful micro-organisms: If we continue fertigating Mokusaku in every
cropping season, the micro-organisms population in the soil will be balanced.
However, we must also consider other activities for the soil. You must find out the
reason of soil deterioration.
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17. Foliar SprayRatioMokusaku:Water=1:100 or more>Effective as Fungicide (ex. Grey M>Enhance Effects of Fungicide, whenMokusaku (But NOT with Copper based>Mokusaku makesthe plant stems andthicker and stronger→Resistant to FuInsect

18. Extractuseful substances using Mo + Propolis(Ne ChiliMokusakuMate=100gAging: As Organically Pesticide

19. 10-50 liter)
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21. vegetative stage.
He noticed the following results after using Mokusaku on his carrots:
(a) The strong odor of pesticide was controlled/reduced.
(b) The harvested carrots were almost uniform in size.
(c) He harvested 4 tons of carrot from a 400 grams seed. He swears that
his yield increased that can be attributed to low quantity of rejects.
(d) He planted this in the cold month of December.
(e) He observed that the leaves of his carrot plant became were wider and
thicker and the carrots had uniform big sizes.
He used the same dosage of Mokusaku on his celery. He noticed the following
results:
(a) His yield increased since before, he usually produced six tons but after
using the Mokusaku plus insecticide/ fungicide, he was able to harvest
12 tons with the same dosage of fertilizer applied on the same area.
(b) The stems also became sturdy and no hallow petiole was observed.
(c) The celery plants become taller and heavier.
He even suggested that the dosage of Mokusaku can be lowered to 50 ml per
knapsack sprayer.
He also used Mokusaku in lettuce and he observed that the leaves became
wider and thicker. But the dosage of Mokusaku should be lowered to 50 ml
when the lettuce is at its maturity stage (head is being formed).
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22. He wants to continue using the Mokusaku because believes that it could
bring back the fertility of the soil. He even wants to make his own compost
using Mokusaku.
17

24. father shared with him what he learned from the seminar and desirable
results he obtained from his own farm trial.
John Dampilag used five to twelve table spoons of Mokusaku and added two
table spoons of insecticide or fungicide. He diluted them in 16 liter of water
(knapsack sprayer). He sprayed at a five day interval during the vegetative
stage of his crop.
He noticed the following results:
(a) The leaves became thicker.
(b) The celery leaves became deep green, which means that the crop was
robust and healthy.
(c) The strong odor of pesticides was lessened after adding Mokusaku to
the mixture spray.
(d) Pesticides had no burning effect despite the increase in the dosage of
Mokusaku.
With these positive results, he said he would try Mokusaku more often on
other crops.
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26. bell pepper at a 14 day interval. He also sprayed pesticides without a
mixture of Mokusaku for an interval of 14 days likewise. He alternately
sprayed his crops.
After spraying, he had observed the following results on his bell pepper:
(a) The leaves became greener and thicker.
(b) The bell pepper produced lots of fruits (50 % increases from previous
cropping).
(c) The yellowing of leaves was minimized.
(d) He enjoyed several harvests.
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28. (c) The leaves and flowers were shiny. (d) She also observed that Mokusaku (a shoot from the roots or lower part of the stem of a(e) After fertigation, she noticed that the leaves of the pl(f) They also tried Mokusaku in compost ma

30. of insecticide (Chlorpyrifos), two table spoons of fungicide and five to eight
table spoons of Mokusaku. He sprayed these to his crop at seven days
interval.
She observed that the carrots sprayed with Mokusaku had vigorous growth
and the color of the leaves became dark green. Before she observed that the
carrots were infested by leaf blight especially during the rainy season. With
the use of Mokusaku, she found that the said leaf blight was controlled.
According to her, Mokusaku had a foliar effect. She said it made the leaves
thicker .Blight also minimized. She said that the more she used Mokusaku,
her demand for pesticides was lessened.
25

32. and started using it as a spray during the seedling stage of cauliflower. He
increased the dosage of Mokusaku to 10 table spoons when the crop reached
the vegetative stage. The leaves of his cauliflower became thicker after
using Mokusaku on the mixture of his pesticide, he said.
He sprayed of seven days interval. He also observed that:
(a) The vegetables became softer and tenderer.
(b) The use of pesticides was reduced since the normal dosage of pesticide
can be lowered to 50 percent.
(c) It minimized the strong odor of the pesticides used.
He mentioned that probably the use of Mokusaku may help to solve the
problem of club root. He believes that Mokusaku could be used to combat
other insect pests.
27

34. normal and most often, her yield were not attractive. Then she came to know
about Mokusaku. She was convinced to experiment on her own. She mixed
eight table spoons of Mokusaku to a one to two table spoons of insecticide
(chlorpyrifos) in a knapsack sprayer. She sprayed it with Mokusaku during
vegetative stage of cauliflower at seven days of interval. She initially
observed that the nutrient deficiency of her crops slowly disappeared. The
yellowish plants became deep green. The leaves became thick and the
harvested cauliflowers had a more compact curd. Black rot and grey mold
were also minimized.
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35. Kabayan Municipal Agriculture Office
The staff of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Kabayan conducted several
experiments on Mokusaku at the municipal nursery in sitio Adereg,
barangay Gusaran, Kabayan. The Mokusaku plant of Kabayan is also
located within their nursery area. The test was done to define its viability
before it would be released to the farmers for their use.
The office planted several crops such as broccoli, zucchini and potato.
They used two table spoons of cypermethrin (insecticide), one table spoons of
spinosad (insecticide), two table spoons of fungicide and eight table spoons of
Mokusaku in one knapsack sprayer (16 liters). They also did fertigation of
Mokusaku after 14 days of transplanting. They diluted two liters of
Mokusaku to 200 liters of water.
The agriculture office recorded the following observations after the
application of Mokusaku:
(a) Mokusaku helped minimize soil borne diseases.
(b) The soil became more porous.
(c) The stems of the crops became stronger.
(d) The leaves became dark green in color.
(e) The plants were good to eat and easy to cook.
30

36. Fig.1. The broccoli not treated with Mokusaku Fig.2. This broccoli grew well a was applied with Mo

38. liters of water. When the bud started to mature and the petals started to
appear, she sprayed at least two times a week using one table spoon of
insecticide (Profenophos) plus two table spoons of insecticides (Cyromazine).
She observed that Mokusaku was useful in controlling aphids. The green
colored insects eating the shoots of the chrysanthemum were controlled.
White flies were also lessened. She added that before she used Mokusaku,
she noticed that the stems of her chrysanthemum were not as strong and
they easily bend. However, the stems became stronger when Mokusaku was
used.
Lucy Lucas also used Mokusaku to fertigate the young chrysanthemums.
She used one liter Mokusaku and diluted it to 200 liters water (one drum
capacity). She observed that destructive soil insects, such as mole cricket and
white grab, could be controlled. During the transplanting, she used one liter
of Mokusaku and a one drum of water (200 liters) added with sunflower
leaves. The smell was usually not good but she still used the mixture. She
observed that the stem become bigger and the color of the leaves became
deep green. She applied Mokusaku three to four times with a weekly
interval.
She said that the used of pesticides may decrease once farmers used
Mokusaku.
33

40. experiments regarding Mokusaku.
Due to his interest in Mokusaku, Sotero decided to use Mokusaku in his
own garden. He has a farm of about 1,000 square meters. He first tried
Mokusaku on pole beans. He sprayed six to ten table spoons (6-10 tbsp.) of
Mokusaku diluted in 16 liters of water on a seven day interval. He had no
basal application of synthetic fertilizer. He only applied processed chicken
manure.
Prior to his experiment on Mokusaku, his usual practice was that he sprayed
green level pesticides on a seven day interval. He diluted four to five table
spoons of fungicide and pesticide in 16 liters of water. However, he observed
that the pods are still being eaten by insects even though he sprayed
regularly. He harvested six times during the season of the crop.
When he sprayed Mokusaku, he observed that the harvesting period became
more frequent. The taste of the bean pod became more sugary compared with
the harvests he had before he used Mokusaku. The pods sprayed with
Mokusaku were also darker in color.
35

42. The making of the mixt , he

43. Sweet potato applied The water cress being applied with the lled. The water me robust and new . The snails controlled

44. Westmoore Martini(Bineng, La Trinid He is a farmer in Bineng, La Trinidad crops such as tomato, chayote, bell pepper

46. aac Laruan: rinidad, Benguet) . Laruan has been a farmer since 1989. He had been planting different started planting roses since 1997, he also ts broccoli, cucumber, lettuces and

47. r and wider. he growth of the getable (Green Ice):

48. Crops: Chrysanthemum and Strawberry
Result: He observed that thrips and mites were minimized. The some holds
through for the moth pests.
43

50. (c) The leaves became thicker and shiny. (d) The petioles became hard (e) The leaves became robust and green. (f) Celery grew in uniform height. (g) The smell of pesticides was lessened. (h) Good feed back from the buyers prolonged the shelf life of their crops. He is currently conducting Mokusakuinitially observed that

51. and maintenance of Mokusaku and compomaking compost. He uses Mokusaku oncups (650 ml) per 16 liters of water. After he sprayed he noticed the following changes: The leaves become robust. The larvae of the pests were eliminatof chilli increased. Mokusa

54. infestation on cucumber will lead to a very low progrowth. We used neem oil mixed with Mokusaku toMokusaku-Neem oil 80 ml for 16 liters knapsack sprarecommended that spraying must be done once a week. Howeverincreased the dosage and the frequency of spray due to heavThe effect is not seen, but suddenly felt but there isappearance of aphids

55. In this photo, the shoots of the pepper appeared stunto rejuvenate. This was before the fertigation of Mokusakuwater. We diluted one liter Mokusaku in 10 liters of water (1:1Mokusaku was fertigated to the pepper. 1 litter of the liquid per plant wasused once a week for three consecutive weeks.

56. After two to three weeks of fertigation, new shoots grew and continued to bear fruit. Several weeks after fertigation, healthy shoots continued to grow. lf dosage of pesticides. Once a week. riod. In the demonstration farm, we0) once a week and also icides. We observed the treated tomato

58. Using his knapsack sprayer, he applied Mokusaku on his potato farm ,
using a combination of one hundred eighty (180) ml or (one small can of
sardines) of Mokusaku plus two table spoons of insecticide (Fenvalerate)
diluted on sixteen liters of water and sprayed to the potato at a seven
day interval.
He observed that the potato tubers were of very good sizes. The weight of the
harvest also increased. The common disease of potato plants, blight, was
also minimized. The height of the growing potatoes was almost uniform. The
leaves also became thicker and greener.
53

60. (b) The leaves are very green and thick.
(c) The broccoli had a longer shelf life (curd does not turn to yellow as fast
as those not applied with Mokusaku).
55

62. plant. She used one hundred eighty (180) ml (small sardine can) plus three
table spoons of insecticide diluted in 16 liters of water. She sprayed at a
seven day interval.
She mentioned that Mokusaku seemed to act like a sticker. She said that the
flea beetle, which is a very destructive pest of mustard, was controlled.
While using Mokusaku proved initially successful, she said that she still
wanted to use Mokusaku for a longer time as they could further observations
how it works.
57

64. dosage in the chrysanthemum garden but only when up to when the flower
buds begin to form.
Observation:
(a) He observed that leaves of the carrots become robust and the sizes of
the tubers were big and uniform.
(b) He and his father observed that the height of chrysanthemum
increased.
(c) The leaves also became thicker.
59

66. To fertigate on his plan, he used a dosage of fifty ml. of Mokusaku in sixteen
liters of water. But when he us sprays, he mixed twenty to thirty ml. of
Mokusaku added to three to four tablespoons of fungicide. According to him,
he observed within a short period of time that Mokusaku help the soil
enrichment
He also observed the following:
(a) The plants grew faster.
(b) The leaves became green and thicker
(c) The (wansoy) vegetable easily recovered after a typhoon.
61

68. (a) Mokusaku acts like a sticker. It helps in the development /fertilization
of flowers to fruits.
(b) It controlled worm insects.
(c) The leaves became thicker.
(d) Mokusaku repelled honey bees and earth worm.
63

70. compost was hastened.
65

72. fertilizer and transplanted the cauliflower seedlings later.
She observed that the newly transplanted cauliflower recovered immediately
and developed new roots faster. She also said that the leaves became darker.
Tope also noticed that the plants were resistant to pest and diseases.
67

74. stage. During the seedling stage, she used Mokusaku for fertigation with a
dosage of 100 liters water + 1 liter of Mokusaku. She applied it twice at a
seven day interval.
She observed that the broccoli plants grew robust despite the presence of
club root. The leaves were also robust and thicker. The curd of the broccoli
was also compact. She said that Mokusaku is good and it could be also
applied to other crops.
69